My feelings are in each family we are called to find the ancestors.To put flesh on their bones and make them live again,To tell the family story and to feel that somehow they know and approve.To me, doing genealogy is not a cold gathering of facts but, instead,Breathing life into all who have gone before.We are the story tellers of the tribe.We have been called as it were by our genes.Those who have gone before cry out to us:Tell our story.So, we do.

In finding them, we somehow find ourselves.How many graves have I stood before now and cried?I have lost count.How many times have I told the ancestorsyou have a wonderful family, you would be proud of us?How many times have I walked up to a graveand felt somehow there was love there for me?I cannot say.It goes beyond just documenting facts.It goes to who I am and why I do the things I do?It goes to seeing a cemetery about to be lost foreverto weeds and indifference and saying I can't let this happen.The bones here are bones of my bone and flesh of my flesh.It goes to doing something about it.It goes to pride in what our ancestors were able to accomplish.How they contributed to what we are today.It goes to respecting their hardships and losses,their never giving in or giving up.Their resoluteness to go on and build a life for their family.It goes to deep pride that they fought to make and keep us a Nation.It goes to a deep and immense understanding that they were doing it for usThat we might be born who we are.That we might remember them.So we do.

With love and caring and scribing each fact of their existence,Because we are them and they are us.So, as a scribe called, I tell the story of my family.It is up to that one called in the next generation,To answer the call and take their place in the long line of family storytellers.That is why I do my family genealogy,And that is what calls those young and old to step up and put flesh on the bones.

"A people which takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants." -Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay

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Thank you, Della M. Cumming and Della JoAnn McGinnis Johnson, for so beautifully expressing how I feel about the genealogy research I so dearly love. Research continues to bring my family's ancestors into clearer permanent focus so we can know more about them.

We each are part of those who went before us. They influenced the world in which we live. How better to honor their lives and the sacrifices they made for us than to live our daily lives remembering that how we live today truly does influence those we will also one day leave behind.

Rev Thomas Shepherd III see that you sponsor his memorial page. He is my 9 times great grandfather. I am very interested in finding out what cemetery he in. All my information just lists that he died in Cambridge. I will be in Boston in September and would like to visit it.

Nina & Elizabeth StewartThank you so much for sponsering these two children of Estella and Alexander Stewart! Are you descended from the Stewart or Harrison line? My connection is through the Harrisons. Again Thank you. Shirley

Stewart transfersI have transferred the three you requested. I see there are more Stewart in Oakwood that I have set up...let me know if you need those transferred also. Right now I am in the process of putting Oakwood on Findagrave...a very long process. I have about 3000 gravesites photographed so will put on pictures asap. More of a winter project when I have more time.